University of Massachusetts Boston

Anthropology Department Virtual Graduation

27 May 2020 4:00 pm – Video Premiere

5:30 pm – Virtual Reception

Welcome Welcome to the virtual and digital – but no less sincere and heartfelt – celebration of our 2020 Anthropology Department graduates. Believe us, this is not the format we wanted to use to acknowledge and send off our graduates, and it surely isn’t what they wanted either. The current world of uncertainty has taken its toll, but we have to make the best of a difficult situation. This moment of success and completion remains too important to let pass by unremarked or to postpone to some future date. We need to celebrate our students now, especially in this poignant moment of degree completion with the pandemic campus shutdown and shift to remote learning that affected us all for the past ten weeks. However, even when confronted with financial, scheduling, family, work, technological, social distancing, and emotional hardships, our students have shown once again their resilience, dedication, and engagement as burgeoning anthropologists and members of their various communities. We are thrilled to have been able to teach them and to learn from them as well, and we want our graduates’ families, friends, and loved ones to know our pride in their accomplishments.

In this challenging context of distance and closure that we’re only now seeing relaxed slightly, we’ve put together a “virtual program” for all of you to enjoy. This digital brochure provides a guide for the graduation celebration, including the names of all of our graduating students (both undergraduate and graduate), photographs if we have them, and the remarks offered about each and every one of them by a professor of theirs. Those undergraduates with awards have two sets of remarks, and those with university prizes have the College of Liberal Arts award page listed with their entry. This brochure is designed to accompany the pre-recorded video that premieres on 27 May 2020, which we hope all of you will be able to watch with us. Even if not, the video will be available for streaming afterwards. In that video, students will see and hear their professors give a version of the remarks included here. We figured keepsakes in both written and video form would be ideal, and in a strange twist, maybe these offer more durability than sometimes live graduation ceremonies.

Finally, consult the last page of the program for some department statements about what anthropologists do. Our students know such elements well and want to pursue some of these in their working or graduate school careers, but we wanted to give family and friends some additional information about our wide-ranging but sometimes misunderstood field!

To the graduating anthropology undergraduate and historical archaeology graduate students of 2020, we offer our heartfelt congratulations. To their families and friends, we thank you for supporting them in this important educational, career-building, and life journey. We’ll miss you when you’ve moved on with the UMass Boston degree in hand. Please stay in touch.

Thanks for being part of our department, and best wishes to everyone!

Graduating Anthropology Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Students

Victor Avendano

Rebecca Boulous

Cullen Bryant

Christine Champagne

Andrew Clements2

Blair Darian

Jenecy Da Silva Filho

Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick4

Sabrina Foley2,3

Rhys Frazier

Seamus Gavaghan2,5

Andrew Grandahl1

Christopher Hart

Lucero Hernandez-Men

Nicholas Hodges

Tyler Jeanlouis

Yasmeen Khader

Alex Li

Jeffrey McClallen

Lamar Montgomery

Noel Pampalone

Wellete Ramsey

Benjamin Ryan2

Tristan Suarez1

Elizabeth Viar

Marisa White

Erika Wiley

Benjamin Williams

Maria Zahir

Key to Awards: 1. University Distinction in Anthropology, 2. Departmental Distinction, 3. Senior Honors in Anthropology, 4. Sally Goss Memorial Prize, 5. University Ryan Award (2018), 6. Lambda Alpha

Undergraduate Anthropology Honors Thesis

Sabrina Foley

Thesis Title: “Endometriosis: A Guide to the Condition and its Role in Women’s Health”. Advisor: Meredith Reiches

Graduating Historical Archaeology Master of Arts (B.A.) Students

Clint Lindsay Thesis Title: “Form, Function, and Context: Lithic Analysis of Flaked Stone Artifacts at a 17th-Century Rural Spanish Estancia (LA 20,000), Santa Fe County, New Mexico.” Advisor: Heather Trigg

Elizabeth Tarulis Thesis Title: “‘We may have profitable commerce and trade together’: An Analysis of 17th-Century Ceramics in Plymouth Colony.” Advisor: Christa Beranek

Elizabeth Quinlan Thesis Title: “‘The diet has been altered as agreed upon & is now very satisfactory’: Socioeconomic Factors and Dietary Reform at the Dorchester Industrial School for Girls.” Advisor: David Landon

Jocelyn Lee Thesis Title: “Small Towns and Mining Camps: An Analysis of Chinese Diasporic Communities in 19th-Century Oregon.” Advisor: Stephen Silliman

Nicholas Zeitlin Thesis Title: “Small-Scale Ironmaking in Viking Age Skagafjörður, North Iceland.” Advisor: John Steinberg

Graduating Students

Anthropology

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Daniela Bravo, Anthropology ‘18 Winner of the UMass Boston John F. Kennedy Prize

Victor Avendano

Professor José Martínez-Reyes

I would like to say a few words about Victor Avendano, or better known as Aldo. He took Anthropology 345, theory, and environmental anthropology. Just like many of UMass Boston students he was a ‘non-traditional’ student, and I remember he was a full-time worker who had the tenacity to manage and navigate finishing a degree. He was someone that I remember (particularly in the theory class) as being someone that really wanted to make the connections of the knowledge of theory with the ‘real world’. Sometimes theory might be some sort of abstract notions and ideas and sometimes it's very difficult to make that connection. I remember Aldo having active discussions about what was applicable about theory and pushing me to think and navigate that connection, and I do remember having waiting conversations to that effect. I really want to congratulate him on finishing and wish him the best of luck in the future.

Rebecca Boulous

Professor Lauren Sullivan

Rebecca took two classes with me during the same semester, “Rise and Fall of the Maya” at 8 am and “Ancient Cities and States” at 9 am! Despite the early hour, she always showed up with a smile on her face and was one of the few students who enthusiastically participated in class discussions and projects helping to make both classes a success. I was really hoping she would attend my Belize Field School but she chose to go to the UMass Boston program in Morocco instead. The professor that lead the trip (Professor Mouhib) said Rebecca was a great addition to the trip. Rebecca

is the kind of bright and motivated student that makes UMass looks good. Her interest is in International Relations and she plans to attend graduate school. It is always a mixed blessing when students graduate – I am glad to see them move on to bigger and better things but sad to see them go. Congratulations Rebecca - I have no doubt that you will accomplish whatever you put your mind to.

Cullen Bryant

Professor Tim Sieber

It’s a pleasure to help celebrate the 2020 graduation of Cullen Bryant as an Anthropology major and Honors College student here at UMass Boston. Cullen’s interests in Anthropology have always been very broad, but he has a special interest in dissecting our contemporary society and in finding the paradoxical and sometimes even humorous features of people’s usual foibles and pretensions. Cullen sets a high standard for himself, by doing his best to find the enjoyable, even hilarious side of life and sharing his laughter over what he sees with others. This definitely takes courage in the difficult moments we all sometimes have to live through, such as during the current scary Pandemic. Like so many of our Anthropology students, Cullen also has another life outside of UMass that few if any of his professors know about: he is dedicated to graphic design, with a special emphasis on comic art and animation – he studies it, and also practices the art. Cullen, congratulations, and we wish you all the best in your future

Christine Champagne

Professor Lauren Sullivan

I got to know Christine when she participated on my field school in Belize last summer. Despite the heat and bugs and the fact that there was limited power, no internet, and no hot water she always had a smile on her face and was a very welcome addition to the program. While I have never had her in a “traditional” class, other professors describe her as “a lovely student to have in class” and a “positive person who worked collaboratively with peers throughout the semester”. I saw all of these qualities with her in the field where her caring nature and personality allowed her to work very well with other

students and faculty members from a number of different backgrounds. Outside from the archaeology she was enthusiastic about going on nature hikes and bird watching walks in the rainforest. Outside the university, Christine has spent many years as an operating room technician where I know they benefitted from her focus and attention to detail. I am certain that after graduation Christine will do great things. Congratulations, Christine!

Andrew Clements Recipient of Department Recognition in Anthropology

Professor Stephen Mrozowski

If there was a Wikipedia page for tall, gentle man, Andrew’s picture would be prominently displayed. I had the good fortunate of having Andrew in two of classes as well as our field school in Grafton – we also had some potential plans for this coming summer but now that won’t happen. Andrew was an extremely careful excavator – I wanted him to move more quickly naturally – but his gentle nature seemed to extend to his work in the field. I have to admit that I found it frustrating at times because I wanted to find some way of having him work faster. But then I would look at the work he had

done – the field forms were often beautiful, concise, clear – really perfect almost. He also got along well with everyone on the field school. So when I think of Andrew I will think of him as someone I really loved working with in the field and how much I hope he continues to pursue a career as an archaeologist.

Professor John Schoenfelder

Hello Andrew Clements! So I taught you in three classes. The first time was in the Fall of 2016 – I believe it was your very first semester, and also your first Anthro class. I think you got the bug. That semester you were interested in having an Anthro Club. The club had petered out at that time, and you talked about maybe getting it started again. I’m not sure if that’s exactly why the Anthro club did start thriving again, but it was certainly an auspicious start for you! The second time I had you, I knew you were reliably sharp and engaged, and I singled you out for in-class questions so often that I actually felt a little guilty about it.

Now, the third time you were in one of my classes, it was “Archaeological Myth and Mystery.” I was co-teaching with Professor Shepard, and it the most fun that either of us had ever had teaching a class! You were a pretty much indispensable part of that. Just like you had been before, in that very lively class, you were one of the most enthusiastic and insightful participants. Also as before, your papers read like you actually enjoyed writing them, and sometimes you even made us laugh out loud. In your final paper you wrote

that “A hypothesis is designed to be destroyed.” That was great – it showed you clearly got and valued what we were trying to get across about the scientific evaluation of ideas, and that was a big part of the whole reason that that class exists! Other professors, by the way, agree with me that you have been highly intelligent, well-spoken, and enthusiastic. You’ve particularly stood out in in-class discussions and group-work situations. What that adds up to is that you’ve made your classes better – and you’ve made them better for your instructors and your classmates, not just for yourself. So: Andrew, we’ve been glad to have you around! You clearly enjoy using your brain. Hold on to that! Congratulations, and good luck with your next steps!

Blair Darian

Professor Stephen Mrozowski

Some students you just connect with, and Blair was one of those. I had him in two of my classes and it was fun. He and a close friend would always sit in the back of the room during the “Empire and Imperialism” class. They were often late for class – which allowed me to call them out for it – and I could tell Blair liked the attention. Like so many of our UMB classes, “Empires and Imperialism” benefited from having students from all over the world – and they spoke often, sharing their own experiences. Blair accepted the role. We laughed about it often and those experiences built a real bond – I would like to think. When he took Anthropology 425 he focused on the culture surrounding food, but in classic Blair fashion he seemed to spend most of his time visiting restaurants and getting well fed. I again found a way of giving him a hard time about it during class – especially when he would spend our time reviewing projects each class and he will just provide another, detailed description of his meal. It made me hungry every time. He did a wonderful job on his final project, as he always did a good job, reflecting his good mind and joyous spirit.

Jenecy da Silva Filho

Professor Tim Sieber

I’m so pleased to be here to help mark the May 2020 graduation of Jenecy da Silva Filho. Jenecy reminds me always of one of the stories Geoffrey Chaucer wrote in his Canterbury Tales (published in 1400) – the “Clerk’s Tale,” about the literate one, the writer, the master of language, the teacher. Chaucer wrote in Middle English, saying of the Clerk that, “Gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche.” Gladly did he learn, and gladly teach: that applies so much to Jenecy! A graduating double major in English, as well, he is a marvelous writer and lover of the English language, one of the best I have ever read, and incredibly, English is not his first language. Jenecy himself is from a blue-collar family in Brazil, who migrated to Massachusetts with his mother and some other relatives as an adolescent. He was attracted to anthropology, I think, because of its utility in highlighting issues of social justice in the way we people live together in society, and treat one another, something Jenecy is always conscious of. He has excelled at UMass Boston, and during his time here and after finishing his studies has worked as a writing tutor for inner-city children and youth, most recently at Boston’s Learning Project Elementary School, where he has been a 5th grade co-teacher for the last year, and earlier at the 826 Project Boston after-school program. He believes in sharing his enthusiasm for English language and literature with others, just like Chaucer’s Clerk, and he has no doubt offered rich gifts to his students. Jenecy is planning to pursue a graduate degree in English literature in Switzerland, and we wish him muito boa sorte [wonderful good luck] in his continuing journey. Thank you, Jenecy, and congratulations!

Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick Recipient of Sally Goss Memorial Prize in Anthropology

Professor Eric Kelley

Congratulations on winning the Goss Prize, Kate! I first got to know Kate Fitzpatrick back in the Fall of 2017 when she took my course, “Introduction to Cultural Anthropology” at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Definitely a tough time for most people, but Kate was ready for action. She took the class very seriously. Her attendance was good. She took advantage of the extra credit journal opportunities in addition to completing all of the required ones. She was a good participant in the class, ready to discuss the material and share journal entries with her fellow classmates at the beginning of class. She made As on all exams, an A+ on the final, and clearly an A for the course.

In the Fall of 2018, she took my course, “Shamanisms: Anthropological Perspectives.” She was excited about this class, having talked to me since the Fall 2017 semester about our shared interest in shamanisms. This was another tough class time, meeting on Friday afternoons from 3:00-6:00 p.m. – another three-hour seminar – but this also didn’t daunt Kate, because of her enthusiasm for both the course material and anthropology generally. She made an 87 on the midterm which was tied for the high grade in the class. She wrote a really fabulous research paper and gave a great presentation on Sami shamanic revitalization.

When we last spoke seriously about her research interests, she was interested in pursuing this further in grad school; but it has been some time since we spoke seriously about her interests. Congratulations Kate! I know we’ll be in touch. I look forward to seeing where you end up going to graduate school. Please stay in touch with the Anthropology Department here at UMass Boston. Congratulations again!

Professor Stephen Silliman

I am here to talk about Kate Fitzpatrick, not only as the winner of the Sally Goss Memorial Prize in Anthropology this year, but as one of our amazing, bright, and dedicated majors finishing up her time with us. The text of the Goss Prize is available in the PDF version of the program, so I encourage you to read that because I’m not going to go through those details verbatim here. It commends her from the Anthropology Department as a whole, but what I want to do is make that greeting, that congratulations, more personalized here. Kate has made numerous

contributions to our courses, projects, and research groups on campus, and I am grateful for the excellent work you brought to my course this semester and to my ongoing archaeology research project over the last little while. Despite the pandemic and a past year of her own health and personal challenges, Kate did wonderful work in my class this semester as a great writer, a keen analyst, and an observant anthropologist. I could see in your work why your GPA is almost perfect!

In the longer term, Kate has contributed to my ongoing archaeological research project with the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation in Connecticut both through on-campus work in the laboratory and helping me with collections and database management but also working with me in the field last summer. Your organizational abilities, supervisory capabilities, attention to detail, and intellectual contributions are clearly already at a graduate student level, and I appreciate the top-rate work and unwavering reliability. Kate is more than primed to pursue a graduate degree now, especially as she is double-majoring in Anthropology and History here as well as completing what is actually her second bachelor’s degree. In short, she perseveres, she rises to any challenge, and she excels. I am thankful to have gotten to know you, Kate, (and especially to have discovered our mutual love of the music of Gothic Americana!), and I wish you the very best after graduation, and I do hope you will stay in touch.

Sally Goss Memorial Prize(Anthropology Department)

Since 1984, the Department of Anthropology has awarded an annual prize in honor of the late Sally Goss. Sally transferred to UMass Boston from Middlesex Community College and completed a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She was accepted into our master’s program in historical archaeology and worked toward her degree for one and a half years, until her death from cancer in 1982. She was the mother of two sons, and throughout her student career she balanced the conflicting demands of home, school, and work, as well as her illness. Sally was a valued member of our community, and her family and the Anthropology Department are proud to honor her memory with this prize.

The Sally Goss Prize is awarded to an anthropology major who is a returning female student, who has demonstrated academic excellence, and whose education in anthropology has been especially meaningful to her because of the obstacles she has had to overcome to obtain it.

Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick

Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick impressed us in the Anthro-pology Department with her determination, intelligence, maturity, conscientiousness, quiet leadership, impeccable reliability, and persever-ance, all of which are evidenced by her near-perfect GPA, her volunteer work in our research labs, and her double major and honors thesis in history. Her path to secure this degree was a little longer than some, as she came back to college to earn a second bachelor’s degree after completing her first BA in management elsewhere. She realized that she needed to follow her passion. However, the path to the second degree at UMass

Boston was fraught with challenges, including an unexpected diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, an emergency hospitalization and surgery, the obligation to care for her father during his cancer battle, and like many students on campus, a need to work full-time throughout her degree. Yet, she managed to keep up her A grades, hardly missed class, and opted to return to campus only a week after surgery. We feel fortunate to have had her taking our courses, working in our archaeology labs, and joining our summer field crews. We expect great things from her in the future as she pursues a graduate degree in anthropology.

Sabrina Foley Recipient of Department Recognition in Anthropology Recipient of Anthropology Senior Honors

Professor Rita Shepard

I am here to say a few words specifically about Sabrina Foley, one of my best students. Sabrina was in a class that I co-taught with Professor John Schoenfelder last fall, and we both agree that this was one of the most fun and thought-provoking classes we have had the privilege to teach! "Archaeological Myths and Mysteries" is a course that focuses on critical thinking. It does this by reviewing and investigating the myths, mysteries, frauds, and fantasies of archaeology and of the human past. In it, students evaluate claims such as: the existence of Atlantis, the possibility of ancient extraterrestrial astronauts as builders of

Stonehenge and the pyramids, and much, much more. As you can imagine, it and generates a lot of student interaction and discussion! Sabrina learned that 'questioning' is not only important to archaeological thinking, but it leads to critical thinking about the world in which we presently live. In her last class paper she wrote: “The best information for the American people to have is honest information that is backed by science, and not what has become known as pseudoscience."

Additionally, Sabrina went above and beyond classroom attendance by joining me and a few other students at an optional lecture at Tufts University given by the author of the book we were using for the class ... In fact, she even brought her mom, whom I was delighted to meet and chat with. Sabrina, in class you

were alert and engaged. Moreover, you are an excellent writer (something on which many professors agree). I wish you much success in the future, and I urge

you to continue to question critically on whatever paths lies ahead.

Professor Meredith Reiches

It is my pleasure to congratulate Sabrina Foley on graduating with a major in Anthropology. I wouldn’t have been lucky enough to meet Sabrina had it not been for Professor Sweet going on leave. Sabrina had planned to write a senior honors thesis, and I was fortunate to be a faculty member with interests that overlapped with Sabrina’s project. That project is called “Endometriosis: A Guide to the Condition and Its Role in Women’s Health.” From that title, it will be clear to you instantly that Sabrina’s anthropological interests trend towards public health and gender. That’s far from the limit of her curiosity, though. Working with Sabrina, it became clear right away that she is a multi-faceted, complex person with an array of intellectual and ethical commitments. In the past year, Sabrina not only designed and undertook a thesis project, which involved research on information available to patients at local clinics, but she also pursued an internship as part of her criminal justice training and completed her degree in the rigorous Honor’s College. Other faculty members in Anthropology who know Sabrina recognize her as a thoughtful, quiet, academically rigorous presence. I’m sorry that we don’t get to share a physical space and raise a glass in honor of Sabrina’s considerable achievements. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that much discovery and satisfaction lie ahead, and I look forward to learning about what paths she explores.

Rhys Frazier

Professor Eric Kelley

Rhys Frazier was a student in my “Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Change in Amazonia” Intermediate Seminar in the Fall semester of 2018. She was a transfer student at the time from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. And on the initial questionnaire that all students are supposed to complete at the beginning of an Intermediate Seminar, under the blank for current career goal, Rhys had written that she “wanted to make a difference.” Unsurprisingly, she was a really good student: very conscientious, came to class, was prepared for class by having done the readings and seriously considered them. As a result, she was supportive of her peers. She actually gave really good feedback to students on the journals that they exchanged at the beginning of class when there were assigned readings for that day. And she also was really good at giving feedback during peer-review sessions on drafts for the formal essays for the course.

This was a relatively quiet section because it was right around lunchtime and there were many absences. But Rhys really helped this class to succeed. She made really great observations about the material during the class and the readings. She asked really good questions that, undoubtedly, her classmates shared. She also took advantage of the opportunity to revise her second essay. It was a really difficult essay – probably the hardest one that was assigned for the course – and she managed in the process of revision to raise her grade by two letter grades.

Consistent with Rhys’ desire to make a difference, she wasn’t driven away from anthropology by the fact that much of the material we deal with in Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Change in Amazonia is sometimes depressing, simply because of the way the Indigenous peoples of the Americas have been treated since first contact with Europeans. Nevertheless, this did not discourage Rhys from her interests in both the cultures and also wanting to make a difference in the world. So, Rhys has really found the intersection of both academic study and a concern for human rights and human problems as something very attractive for her. I would like to say congratulations to you, Rhys, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Please stay in touch with us here at UMass Boston and let us know how you are

doing.

Seamus Gavaghan Recipient of Department Recognition in Anthropology Previous Recipient of University Ryan Award (2018)

Professor Patrick Clarkin

Seamus has taken three classes with me, all in consecutive semesters: one on war, one on growth and nutrition, and currently a special topics class on human mating. In the summer, we’ll be working on an Honors Thesis project together. So, that’s four consecutive semesters, so I guess you like me, Seamus. And the feeling is mutual.

Seamus excels on everything, on papers and exams, but you wouldn’t know it because he’s also really quiet and humble, or reserved, at least in my classes. Seamus has been really impressive. He won the Ryan Award in 2018, which goes to the student with the highest GPA after their first four consecutive semesters. I found an article on you, Seamus, where you were quoted on speaking about the importance of the Internet, which you were interested in at the time, and how it’s difficult to see how that could not change the world. And this semester has proven you right, so very prophetic. You’re ahead of your time. We’ve also spoken a few times outside of class, and I think you have a really bright future. I think you and your family should be really proud of everything that you’ve accomplished. So congratulations on graduating, and I look forward to seeing you in the summer.

Professor Tim Sieber

I only met Seamus during his last semester of studies at UMass Boston, but of course his fame as winner of the university’s prestigious Ryan Award in 2018 preceded our meeting. We knew he was special, and indeed he was! Always fresh and original in his thinking about society and culture, Seamus never let anthropology’s and academia’s straight-laced side hamper his imaginative, critical eye, as he has focused more and more in his thinking on the impact of the digital environment on human relations – a profoundly new frontier that certainly is grabbing our renewed attention today as more and more dimensions of our social life have migrated to the digital domain during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Seamus also has embraced one of the key tenets of the anthropological approach in understanding: that we always must recognize and value the great diversity of humankind as regards the vast cultural, language, race and ethnic differences that mark human societies across the globe, but at the same time remember to acknowledge that we all – as humans – are more fundamentally alike than different in our basic characteristics – indeed we’re all cousins, if not brothers and sisters. He observes that the conflict we see around the world, and in our society, is something worth working to combat and ameliorate, as it stems from our failure the recognize this fundamental unity we have as humans. Seamus takes a critical, demanding view of our human future, but his vision is an optimistic one…. he’s certainly someone to follow!

Congratulations to you, Seamus!!!

Andrew Grandahl Recipient of University Distinction in Anthropology

Professor José Martínez-Reyes

Andrew only took one class with me, Theory (Anthropology 345), and he was a very impressive student. I have to say that he is one of those students that is well read, speaks well, writes beautifully, and raises the bar in the dynamics of the class and the discussion. One of the things that I appreciate about having Andrew was that he made you have to really be ready to come prepared to this course. There are different theories particularly the sort of the content of the ideas and the other theories in

class and he really sort of brought that level he raised the bar on the discussion and really made the course challenging without alienating his students manageable. He was also they well read. I was very impressed about the amount of books that he had read and that would mention as examples out of the blue. He would acknowledge them and he would make a comment because he had already read those books and that really impressed me enormously and it speaks about the sort of the kind of thing that he is. Someone that is open and really has a real thirst for knowledge and discussion. He really made it made it a joy to have in class. So I wish Andrew the best of luck in future endeavors.

Professor Cedric Woods

Congratulations, Andrew!  I am very happy to be able to make these comments on behalf of one of my former students and Anthropology major, Andrew Grandahl. From the beginning of the semester in my course, it quickly became apparent that Andrew was not just an academically gifted student, who completed thoughtful responses and critiques of the assigned material. It was also clear that Andrew looked at this course, and the discipline of Anthropology, as a way to learn how to interpret and engage with broader societal concerns and issues. In our conversations in and outside of class, Andrew considered deeply how to use these academic tools to be a better citizen of the world, and push for greater equity for Indigenous and other marginalized peoples. While I can’t say that Andrew developed this core commitment to social justice in my class, I do like to think that I provided him with additional grounding to support his efforts. Congratulations again, Andrew, not just on your graduation and success in the Anthropology Department, but also to the wonderful human being you are.

Christopher Hart

Professor Meredith Reiches

Chris Hart took the Anthropology capstone with me. This is a culminating experience for Anthropology majors, where students bring their collected content knowledge, theoretical chops, and methodological skills to a multidisciplinary seminar organized around a theme. Our theme was kinship and marriage. What Chris brought to the class, in addition to critical acumen and a robust sense of humor, was pretty unique: he came with the training not only of an anthropologist but of a professional chef. Chris used his culinary training in French, Italian, and Japanese cuisine, and his lifelong familiarity with Chinese cuisine, to craft a tasting menu that illustrated the

differences, for him, between the concept of “kin” and the concept of “family.” By Chris’s definition, and the definition of a friend he interviewed, kin relationships are the ones a person is born into. Family, by contrast, represents relationships that are chosen and that withstand the test of time, though the two categories may overlap. As Chris put it in his final project, “Joining a family is similar to applying for a job where the consanguine candidates, by default, have better resumes than anyone else.” This flair for analogy came through loud and clear—provided a forward note?—in Chris’s analysis of the tasting menu, in which some dishes were kin, others were family, and others formed a hybrid of the two. Chris, it was a pleasure to learn with you. Congratulations, and all the best to you in the great kitchen of the world.

Lucero Hernandez-Men

Professor Tim Seiber

It’s the greatest pleasure for me to join with everyone in celebrating Lucero Hernandez-Men’s 2020 graduation as an Anthropology major. Lucero really stood out for me as an astute, perceptive observer of today’s urban scene – our contemporary world as a whole, really. For over a decade, as a young personshe has lived in the dynamic city of Cambridge, over there on the other side of theCharles. In all her writing in urban anthropology, she showed a sharp, critical viewof the gentrification process she has been observing there for a long time, and ofthe great transformations in urban social life that it has brought there and inBoston more widely. She observed that because of dramatic cultural differencesamong people, they sometimes – sadly – do not extend themselves to others. Thiscan include how immigrants are not always welcomed in our communities. As sheonce wrote in a paper, “There are such amazing people in life that others neverget the chance to know.” She pointed out that, “Not everyone wants to step outof their comfort zone, which makes situations difficult at times…but when theyfinally do, possibilities open up they may have never thought were possiblebefore!” We will miss Lucero’s quiet, deep, and very thoughtful reflections on thehuman condition she sees around her. Congratulations on your achievement,Lucero!!!

Nicholas Hodges

Professor Patrick Clarkin

Nick took two classes with me. The first time that I met Nick was about a year ago, actually. He took an upper level class with me on the anthropology of war. In that class he did a research paper on the effects of nuclear war on human biology and health. He was also on a team that did a presentation on Iraq. I think that class is where you made the biggest impression on me, Nick, because I got to learn

more about your background as a veteran and your time in Afghanistan. But also we talked about your love of travel, some of the places that you’ve been to. It’s pretty clear that you have a curious heart, and that you like to go see things, to travel and explore. We also talked about your time after UMass Boston and the possibility in moving on to graduate school. I haven’t seen you in several months, so I’m not sure what went down with all that, but I think that’s a possible future for you, that it’s clear you love learning. You also took an Intro class with me. You did well in both classes, so you left a mark on me and I will remember you. I hope you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished here, and I think that your future is very bright. So congratulations. I think you should feel really proud of what you’ve done here.

Tyler Jeanlouis

Professor Rosalyn Negrón

This message is for Tyler Jeanlouis. Tyler, I’m sorry that I can't share this message in person, but I'm so happy to be able to share some of my thoughts of you as a student. When I looked back at when we had first met, I realized that was in the fall of 2014. And it was in my first large enrollment class with 95 students. And out of those 95 students you definitely stood out as someone who was open-minded, curious, respectful, thoughtful. And I was glad to be able to reconnect with you few years later when I was doing my project on STEM students and I had remembered that you actually started out in the College of Science and Math, and reached out to you because of that experience and then learned that you had switched your major to anthropology or had considered, I think, at that time.

So a couple of things that I have learned from our conversations about your journey at UMass Boston: I think I've learned from you about how valuable anthropology is for helping us understand and hear our own stories helping us with our own histories and I know that the sorts of things that you learned in anthropology were the reasons why you actually switched from the sciences over to our discipline, and that you really valued the sort of learnings that you got. I also will take away something that I thought was really important for me to know especially as I’m trying to understand why students might leave the STEM fields. You said that being able to have professors who shared your experience, specifically your experience as a black man, was really important for you and really was one of the reasons why you decided to major in anthropology and I actually like to share that anecdote without actually saying who that was from because it

communicates the importance of diverse faculty so that we can bring students like you, who are so thoughtful and who are so interested in diversity and who come from communities and social networks that are really reflective of the amazing diversity of our communities; to be able to bring them to our department is really valuable and we certainly hope that we continue to do that.

Thank you so much for those insights. I wish you all the best, so happy that you’ve reached this milestone and I know that you are going to take what you learned from anthropology and your natural openness to diverse experiences with you in the next years to come. So good luck and all my best wishes.

Yasmeen Khader

Professor Barbara Worley

I’d like to introduce Yasmeen Khader, who is graduating this year with an Anthropology and English double major and a minor in secondary education. Yasmeen took “Biological Anthropology” with me back in Fall 2018. Thank you for taking my course! I remember Yasmeen was one of the most eager students in my class, and I’m sorry to say goodbye to such a

wonderful student. Yasmeen was working at Petco at the time, and said she had lots of cool pets, so I’m sure you have some company now even though we are all staying at home because of the pandemic. Yasmeen, I wish you all the best, and congratulations on your Bachelor of Arts degree at UMass Boston!

 

Alex Li

Professor Patrick Clarkin

Alex took a class with me last semester on “Growth and Nutrition,” Anthropology 316. What I will remember about you, Alex, is that even though it was an 8 am class, you had perfect attendance and you were enthusiastic and you were smiling every morning, which is really hard to do at that time of day. You did well in the class. You were also one of the few students to choose to do the research paper, the optional research paper, and you also did well on that, which I will talk about in a second because it’s relevant to some of your future plans you told me about. But before I get to that, one more thing which is that we broke the class up into teams and we did it twice to reshuffle things around, and students were allowed to create their own team name, and you guys picked – I believe this was led by you – the pygmy elephants. So that was your choice, kind of integrating class concepts. It’s too hard to explain to the rest of you, but Alex can explain it if he wants. And so, your future plans, you told me you are going onto public health and that’s connected to your research paper. So I think that’s wonderful. I’m really happy for you and proud of you. And I think we need good people, good, smart people with good hearts in public health. So be proud of all you’ve accomplished and congratulations on graduating.

Jeffrey McClallen

Professor Barbara Worley

I’d like to introduce Jeff McClallen, who is graduating this year with an Anthropology major. Jeff took Peoples and Cultures of Africa with me back in Fall 2018. Thank you for taking my course! I remember Jeff was one of the best participants in class discussions, and I’m sorry to say goodbye to such a wonderful student. Jeff has a love of nature and is heavily into music. His interest in ethnomusicology led him to take a variety of cultural anthropology courses. He plays several instruments and specializes in synthesizing and recording music. 

Jeff, I wish you all the best, and congratulations on your Bachelor of Arts degree at UMass Boston!

 

Lamar Sinclair Montgomery

Professor Jean-Philippe Belleau

Lamar traveled extensively in his youth, although he was born in Boston, his mother's hometown. He grew up mostly in California and in Hawaii. Hawaii? What are you doing here? And you're doing your confinement here in Boston and not in Hawaii?  Lamar joined the military and gained a scholarship to go to college. He first went to college in California before transferring to Boston. Because he had traveled extensively in his youth and because he grew up hearing both English and Spanish in his household, he was first interested in Linguistics. But after taking a course in cultural anthropology, he decided to switch, which is why he is majoring with us. As he puts it: "It helps me put into words my mixed feelings on my own identity after spending many of my most impressionable years in Hawaii." I remember Lamar very well in my anthropological theory course, mainly because this course is actually still going on, but also because Lamar was always ready, always attending, and always asking questions, even after we switched to online. I think this testifies to your resilience. After graduation, Lamar plans to go back to California. But in the long-term, his plan is to move and work in Japan. Lamar is what is called a Nippophile. He loves Japan and Japanese culture. He speaks Japanese. He has already lived in Japan, and he's currently working with the Japanese Society of Boston and the Japanese Consulate in Boston. He is even considering going to grad school in Japan. Well, Lamar, wherever you go to grad school, this entire department will be very supportive.

Noel Pampalone

Professor Barbara Worley

I’d like to introduce Noel Pampalone, who is graduating this year with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology. Noel took “Peoples and Cultures of Africa” with me back in Winter 2018.  She also took “Social and Cultural Perspectives on Witchcraft and Sorcery” in Spring 2019. Thank you for taking my courses! I remember Noel was an excellent writer, and her term paper on the logic of Songhay sorcery was the most interesting one in my Africa course.  I’m sorry to say goodbye to such a wonderful student. Noel loves learning about new cultures, which has led her to travel to a number of countries and immerse herself in the day to day lives of people around the world. Noel also loves to help others, and was recently accepted into the Master’s program in Conflict Resolution at the

McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, here at UMass Boston. 

Noel, I wish you all the best, and congratulations on your Bachelor of Arts degree at UMass Boston!

   

Wellete Ramsey

Professor Nedra Lee

Congratulations on your recent graduation from UMass Boston. I first met you in my Capstone course on anthropological approaches to the study of race. When you first entered this class, you seemed hesitant. You expressed some reservations about the nature and direction of the course discussions, especially in a class where women of color were represented in the minority. You also seemed concerned about the coursework. I can still recall you and your classmates’ facial expressions as you gazed over the syllabus and counted the number of pages of reading for the week. However, over the course of the semester, I watched you grow and

become more confident in the expression of your thoughts and feelings in this course. Your remarks—both oral and written—were thoughtful and forceful in its critiques of racism and hopeful in what you believed anthropology could contribute to these efforts. Finally, your interview with your sister in your ‘zine on race and the body showed great respect for her work while beautifully showing the impact of the intersection of race and gender on the lives of professional Black women. I wish you the best in your future endeavors, and I hope you will continue to keep writing and speaking out on behalf of women and women of color in all that you choose to do. Congratulations.

Benjamin Ryan Recipient of Department Recognition in Anthropology

Professor Jean-Philippe Belleau

Ben Ryan is an extraordinary student. Ben is originally from here, Massachusetts. He was first drawn to anthropology because of, as he puts it, the vastness of the discipline. His primary interest lies in paleo-biological evolution, as well as linguistics, Marxist theory, and urban anthropology. His professors have described him as a remarkable person, an outstanding student in every respects, an incredibly intelligent student and incredibly talented. He did his undergraduate thesis, which he presented last December with Professor Tim Sieber, on grassroots non-profit organizations, and public transit in Boston. For this, he carried out archival research and interviews on the development of the Fairmont commuter railroad, which runs through communities of color in Dorchester and Roxbury. He focuses especially on the role of community development and corporations in fostering ancillary economic development in neighborhoods with train stations. Ben has also studied in Limerick, Ireland, at the University of Limerick.

He is also officially graduating now but was able to finish earlier. He hopes to continue with a master's degree in anthropology. There are many interesting things about Ben. One is his passion for flying, for aviation. And the fact that he is a semi-professional cross-country cyclist! I know a little bit about cross-country bicycling because I did that once for 5 minutes and I know it's incredibly difficult and tiring. So that reflects on Ben's personality, as someone who is resilient and resolute. That he is also studying to become a licensed pilot augurs well for anthropology,

which he can bring to new heights. He'll be a high flying anthropologist. Ben, you brought a lot to this department and to this university and we wish you well.

Professor Nedra Lee

Ben, congratulations on your graduation from UMass Boston. I am happy to share in the excitement of this moment with you, and I would like to wish you the best in your next professional and academic endeavors. I really enjoyed our conversations in the capstone class on race. Your willingness to engage with difficult readings and difficult conversations showed a keenness of thought and a level of

courageousness that was unparalleled. I would like to encourage you to continue to take all that we learned with you; take it with you in your home, in your neighborhood, and in your flights across the globe. I know you have the capacity to add much to this world. Best wishes.

Tristan Suarez Recipient of University Distinction in Anthropology Department Student Office Assistant (Fall 2017-Spring 2018)

Professor Rosalyn Negrón

I'm lucky to be able to share some thoughts about Tristan Suarez who was an advisee and also a student who did a directed study with me. Tristan, I can't stress enough what a privilege and a joy it was to have our advising meetings and our directed study meetings. When I first arrived at UMass Boston I really was excited to be able to teach courses in linguistic anthropology. And it didn’t work out that I could do that regularly, so meetings with students like you who were interested in that sub-field helped me to stay connected and to stay fresh with knowledge and information and with you especially you really brought such a high level

of intellect and curiosity and questions and engagement that was so enriching to me personally, I want you to know that. I feel like I've learned just as much if not more from you and the conversations and your deep knowledge on shamanism and Mongolia and the interesting connection to language, always enriching and always fascinating. So thank you so much for those wonderful conversations which sometimes you approached them almost apologetically, but just be 100% clear in the fact that those meetings were true joys and something that I will keep with me and I also appreciate your overall kindness, your ability to listen carefully and deeply. I love the fact that you asked genuine questions to improve, wanting to understand how to position yourself in a career in anthropology. And it's been clear to me that you really love the discipline and see a future for yourself in it. So I want to encourage you to continue in your studies, go for that PhD you will be

amazing. Those meetings that we had felt very much like I was having discussions with a graduate student, not an undergraduate student just because you brought such a depth of knowledge and curiosity and quickness, which are all the qualities that one might need to succeed and continue graduate studies. I very much look forward to reading your future work and your future writing and the insights that you'll bring to anthropology and hope that you continue to pursue anthropology. I wish you all the best Tristan and please don't hesitate to visit or to write and to

continue to keep me updated. Congratulations.

Professor Jean-Philippe Belleau

Tristan, one of the many things I remember about you, is you, sitting on the front row, which you did in every class you took with me, and I remember you nodding, and nodding, and nodding, approving of everything I was saying. And suddenly, at least once in every session, you would stop nodding, and you would frown in silence. That scared the hell out of me. What did I say? What error did I make? From anyone else, I would not have worried. Luckily for me, you were always gracious enough to wait for the end of

it, you would come to me and say, "Professor, you said that 2 and 2 make 5. I think it's actually 4." Well, you may have a point. Anyway, we now need to look at the future and need to do now, is to get you to Mongolia. Take care, Tristan.

Elizabeth Viar

Professor Rita Shepard

I am here to say a few words about Elizabeth Viar, the first of which are: CONGRATULATIONS, LIZ! Liz Viar was another enthusiastic participant in the “Archaeological Myths and Mysteries” class. She was always part of the animated discussions that occurred in that room. She was also one of the students who went above and beyond and the optional lecture given by the author of our textbook at Tufts. Going a bit further still, she added some rather outrageous kookiness to our home office one evening. Liz, do you remember that you sent us an amazingly funny, yet somehow sad, video clip? It was interview with a guy who was sure that

there are alien entities hiding behind stars, that many stars are actually space ships, and that our sun is a portal to a 5th dimension! You certainly absorbed the critical thinking objectives and intent of the class. In a lesson for us all to remember, in one of her class papers, Liz points out that, "With a hot topic ..... it is imperative to avoid the “what ifs,” “maybes,” and “imagines,” especially when they’re presented as concrete evidence.” She continues by saying that: “The best way to approach something like this, is to present ... [the researchers'] journey to find evidence."

Now that you have reached the end of your journey at UMass Boston, please keep your wonderful sense of humor, and keep partnering it with a critical mind and an anthropological perspective. These will guide you in your new adventures. Best wishes always!

Marisa White

Professor Stephen Silliman

Marisa, graduate of Scituate High School, was a student of mine first in September 2014 when she enrolled in my “Archaeological Myth and Mystery” class. I recall her starting as an English major, but starting to feel the draw of anthropology through her coursework, especially after she did a study abroad program in Thailand. She subsequently enrolled a couple of years later in my “Archaeological Method and Theory” course. I had hoped she would be able to participate in my field

school shortly thereafter, but like many UMass Boston students, time and finances didn’t line up.

Marisa always had a passion for the course work and topics. You came to class eager to discuss issues and ready to learn, and I always appreciated your presence in the classroom, especially in the method and theory course that had a strong hands-on, group activity component. Your writing flair, probably from the past English experience, added a nice touch to your papers. For those who may not know, Marisa is also creative and artistic, enjoys cosplay, and sees beauty and whimsy in the world – all of which feed her anthropological imaginations and connections to others.

Life definitely threw Marisa some notable challenges along the way, but she pushed her way through them. I’m proud of you and your accomplishments, and I am here now to congratulate you on a job well done and to wish you the best. It was a real pleasure getting to teach and advise you on our journey.

Erika Wiley

Professor Stephen Mrozowski

UMass Boston students have many endearing qualities, but chief among them is how hard they work. Erika Wiley was both a student and research assistant who worked in the lab. In class Erika was quiet. This made it all the more fun when I made her laugh – she would try to hide it, but not very well, which only added to the enjoyment. Erika was always a serious student, a good writer who asked interesting questions. It was in the lab, however, where Erika proved to be such a hard and dedicated worker. One of the points that I think should be mentioned is how much the graduate students were impressed with Erika’s dependability and work ethic. Graduate

students are sometimes hard to impress but Erika was one of the real favorites of our grad students. What I found most notable was that I would sometimes hear them talking about Erika amongst themselves. I know they admired her commitment – something that never wavered – and how they came to depend on her. I am sure she has a bright and successful future ahead of her.

Benjamin Williams

Professor Lauren Sullivan

I met Ben in the classroom when he took “Introduction to Archaeology” and “Ancient Cities and States” with me. He regularly participated in class discussions and clearly had a passion for archaeology. I remember him telling me that he came from a family of adventurers that enjoyed finding hidden places off the beaten path and he certainly did that when he participated in my archaeological field school in Belize in the summer of 2015. Ben has a great sense of humor and always had a smile on his face even when riding

the in back of a 1980 pick-up truck in the rain covered in bug bites. Ben took a year off of school and spent it in New York with an Americorps program working with kids in urban schools in the South Bronx – they were lucky to have him. He returned to UMass Boston to finish strong in “Viking Archaeology” and a History class on “Crime, Corruption, and Scandal.” Ben also worked at the UMass Boston Early Learning Center for several years taking care of young children – not an easy task! Ben is a great example of a student taking what he has learned in the classroom and integrating it with hands-on real-life experience. Congratulations on your graduation, Ben! I will miss seeing your smiling face around campus and I know that you will succeed in whatever direction your future takes.

Maria Zahir

Professor Tim Sieber

Maria Zahir is nothing less than a Wonder Woman, though a quiet and humble one who uses her powerful gifts at analysis and communication to produce the most beautiful and incisive writing you could ever imagine. An immigrant from Morocco, she went to school and lived in Revere, and has always been deeply committed to social and environmental justice, both locally and globally – which you can see in her papers for school, and her activism in the community, too. Like so many of our students here at UMB, and in Anthropology, Maria has a rich professional life outside of the university that is little known to her teachers. She is a professional photographer, and the long-term

Studio Manager, and a teacher, at the dynamic Boston Photography Workshops located in the Fort Point District of South Boston. It’s not a surprise that she sees photography as a means to build bridges of peace and understanding, and to share accessible and universal messages to people across different cultures and generations. Her photos reveal the beauty of ordinary human lives set into the backdrop of the breath-taking natural and urban worlds we are blessed to inhabit. Congratulations, Maria, on all your achievements, and thank you for being with us through these years!

Graduating Students

Historical Archaeology

Master of Arts (B.A.)

Jocelyn Lee Recipient of Barbara E. Luedtke Award of Excellence in Historical Archaeology

Professor Stephen Silliman

I could not be more pleased to wish Jocelyn Lee congratulations on her graduation from our master’s program in Historical Archaeology. I not only get to highlight you as a prize-winning student because you are this year’s recipient of the Barbara E. Luedtke Award of Excellence in Historical Archaeology, but I get to talk about you from my perspective as your supervisor, instructor, and mentor. I won’t mention all the things that are in the summary that accompanies the prize description in the program, so I encourage readers to take a look at that. Instead, I want to emphasize you as a student and a person. Don’t worry, this is all good stuff, I promise! Jocelyn is smart, articulate, thoughtful, critical, empathetic, sincere, politically astute, and good humored. Believe me, these are wonderful qualities for a graduate student and for a person. Jocelyn is highly dedicated to her graduate studies and her long-term interests in securing a position as an anthropology professor. She has a keen sense of what it means to do community-engaged archaeology and to deal with the relevance of heritage in the contemporary world. Her thesis in our program focused on 19th-century Chinese mining communities in Oregon, her work in China itself on archaeology projects, her work on the Boston Chinatown Project, her engagement with Asian-American Studies and teaching Mandarin, and her own experiences as a Chinese and Taiwanese American have given her a distinct comparative and culturally-situated approach to archaeology and one that she

wants to bring to the field in the U.S., and it is one in particular that emphasizes inclusivity and diversity. We have been so lucky to have you in our program, Jocelyn, and I have enjoyed teaching you and learning from you. She isn’t stopping here, though, as she heads to Stanford University in the fall to pursue her PhD in anthropology. I look forward to having you a colleague in the years to come, and I wish you the very best, and I extend my heartiest congratulations to you on all of your accomplishments: your graduation, your thesis, your prize, and your admission to Stanford. My office will certainly be a lot quieter next year when you’re not there to pay me regular visits, and I’m truly going to miss those….

Anthropology DepartmentJocelyn Lee Recipient of the Barbara E. Luedtke Book Award for Academic Excellence in Historical Archaeology

This year’s recipient of the Historical Archaeology Master’s Program thesis award is Jocelyn Lee. Jocelyn came to the University of Massachusetts Boston with a BA in ancient studies and Asian studies from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Jocelyn’s interest in historical archaeology relates directly to her desire to under-stand and promote Chinese heritage and identity, particularly in the context of the historic Chinese Diaspora in North America. To advance that interest, she has served as co-director of the community-engaged Boston Chinatown Project, worked on Stanford University’s Cangdong Village Project in the Guangdong Province of China, served as a graduate teaching assistant for an Asian American studies undergraduate course, and has taught Mandarin at a children’s language school in Quincy.

More specifically, Jocelyn has used her master’s thesis research to study Chinese miners and merchants in later nineteenth-century contexts in Oregon. Her project has involved archaeological excavation at a miner camp, careful analysis of artifactual materials recovered from mining and store sites, and thoughtful translations of store ledgers. The master’s project is comparative, rigorous, and ambitious, taking up questions of consumption, labor, identity, and racism in ways that usually only dissertations attempt.

We are happy with all that Jocelyn Lee brought to our graduate program: rigorous research, generous lab assistance, Geographic Information Systems skills, commitments to peer support, a community engagement ethic, political acuity, and good humor. We are proud to award her this year’s prize. She will matriculate as a PhD student in anthropology at Stanford University in fall 2020.

Clint Lindsay

Professor Heather Trigg

I’d like to congratulate Clint Lindsay on completing his master’s degree. I feel so lucky to have had Clint working on my research project. I knew that I needed a specialist who could analyze lithic materials, but when Clint arrived, I didn’t realize how lucky I was. Clint volunteered for weeks – months, really – working on the lithics [stone tools] from New Mexico even before he was accepted into the program in historical archaeology – and I was a little nervous that he might be doing all this work and we might not accept him into the program. Boy was I wrong. Accepting Clint was easy and he proved to be just as adept in the classroom as he was in the lab analyzing lithics. If there is one adjective to describe Clint, it is meticulous – his classwork, writing, his fieldwork, his

analysis .... The work that he did for his master’s research was incredibly thorough, incorporating just about any analysis that one might do with stone tools. His work amounted, really, to almost 2 thesis projects. He and I joked that with just another substantive chapter and a conclusion, he would have had a dissertation.

When Clint started our program, I knew he had a great deal of field experience. So I was thrilled when he agreed to come to New Mexico to work in my site. As you might expect from his background, his fieldwork was meticulous – walls were straight, profile drawings beautiful and notes, meticulous. It was a model for other students, and some told me how much they learned from him. That willingness to share his experience was something that I also really appreciated. I’m thrilled that Clint is completing his master’s degree. But it is a little bittersweet in that he’s such

a valuable person that I would love to have him continue to work here at UMass Boston. Hey Clint, I’m starting a new project in the Southwest. Can I persuade you to join us?

Well done! Best of wishes for your future endeavors.

Elizabeth Quinlan

Professor David Landon

Hi, I am David Landon, the Graduate Program Director for the Historical Archaeology Master’s Program. It is my pleasure to offer congratulations to Liz Quinlan on the completion of her master’s degree. Liz, I hope your family, and your friends have a chance to view this and share in the celebration of your accomplishments. Liz came to UMass Boston with previous expertise in the zooarchaeology,

the study of animal bones from archaeological sites. She used this experience to frame her MA thesis, melding documentary, archaeological and zooarchaeological data to reconstruct the diet at the Dorchester Industrial School for Girls, and interpret its social and ideological implications.

Liz took every opportunity to push herself in new directions as a graduate student. She took a deep dive into fish osteology to help identify fish bones from the excavations in Plymouth, MA, and experimenting with pXRF to study an unusual collection of rat bones from a site in Boston. These very technical analysis projects set her up very nicely for a jump into a PhD program at York University. There she in an integral part of a trans-disciplinary team studying the cultural, historical, archaeological, biological, and ecological dimensions of the salmon fisheries.

For these many accomplishments please join me in offering my heartfelt congratulations to Liz Quinlan!

Elizabeth Tarulis

Professor Christa Beranek

Congratulations to Elizabeth Tarulis! For those of you who don’t know, Elizabeth has just finished her master’s degree here and is going on to the University of Tennessee for a Ph.D. program. Elizabeth has been an integral part of the Plymouth project here at UMass Boston for the last three years, working both at Plimoth Plantation and on collections here and in the field. She has made important contributions to a number of other projects as well. Additionally, Elizabeth has been a very notable contributor of delicious baked goods in the department. We’ve had a number of grad students who have been excellent

bakers, but I’m not sure I remember anyone who has brought in such a wide variety of delicious things as Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, I’ve really enjoyed working with you. Your level of professionalism is just unparalleled, and it’s been wonderful to work with you because I always know that whatever you are working on, you are going to do an excellent and thorough and detail-oriented job. We will miss you a lot, and I wish you the best at the University of Tennessee. Congratulations!

Justin Warrenfeltz

Professor David Landon

Hi, I am David Landon, the graduate program director for the Historical Archaeology Master’s program. It is my pleasure to offer congratulations to Justin Warrenfeltz on the completion of his master’s degree. Justin, I hope your family, and your friends have a chance to view this and share in the celebration of your accomplishments.

My memories of Justin focus especially on fieldwork, as he worked with me on several archaeological excavations. He is a master excavator. Justin was in integral part of fieldwork in both Plymouth and Nantucket, Massachusetts. On these projects he undertook some incredibly complicated and technical digging – literally excavations with ladders and step backs to go 8 feet below the ground surface. Justin also shows an incredible understanding and frankly love for artifacts, carefully cleaning and recording our finds in the field.

For his thesis Justin took a slight detour from his interests in the17th-century and investigated a period of urban renewal landscape change in Plymouth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This work combines detailed map data, historical genealogy, and archaeological results to understand the complex process of formation of a memorialized landscape. For these many accomplishments, please join me in offering my heartfelt congratulations to Justin Warrenfeltz!

Nicholas Zeitlin

Professor John Steinberg

I’m John Steinberg, Research Scientist here at the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research. Congratulations to Nicholas Zeitlin on finishing your master’s degree and most importantly completing your M.A. thesis. Your thesis was a seminal work on Iron production in Viking Age Iceland. This is a major accomplishment and one you will feel proud of for years to come. On a personal note, I have gotten to work with Nika in the field in many different situations,

not just in Iceland but all over New England. Some of those situations were pretty difficult, and Nika was always the go-to guy to get things done when things look difficult. I see why then you have spent so much time in the field over the last few months; it is really where you do some of your best work, although I must say your M.A. was outstanding. It is a real privilege for me to call you a friend, and now it’s an honor to call you a colleague. Congratulations on your graduation, Nika.

What is anthropology? Families and friends often ask this. They might follow with, “What job do you get with a

degree in anthropology?” We’re happy to answer! Anthropology specializes in human

diversity and explores the ways that humans understand and adapt to a wide variety of

settings, urban and rural, past and present, in all regions of the globe. Anthropology

seeks to understand humans as a whole and in the particulars of cultures and

communities: their bodies and biology, social and physical environments, economics and

politics, religions and rituals, artistry and creativity, minds and emotions, technologies

and material worlds, movements and mobilities, histories and evolutionary paths, and

successes and struggles. Anthropology achieves this perspective through four subfields:

cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. As a result,

anthropology is poised to offer critical and well-informed engagements with many issues

today. A major goal in our degree is to offer students insights into five major questions:

What is humanity?

Where do we come from?

Why do cultures differ?

What is my place in society and the environment?

How can anthropology make a difference?

As a department and program of study, we are committed to critical learning and

discovery; to diversity, respect, and inclusion; and to cultural and environmental

stewardship. Our approach is based not only on what kind of preparation best serves

the aspiring professional anthropologist, but also on what anthropology has to offer for

addressing trends affecting our families, workplaces, and communities. Anthropological

training is applicable to many lines of work and careers in education, health, science,

medicine, law, business, the arts, museums, heritage management, community

organizing, development, advocacy, organizational consulting, urban planning, public

policy, foreign service, non-profit work, and further graduate study in anthropology or

related fields. For more information on pertinent careers, visit this employment

resource from the American Anthropological Association. Also, be sure to read “What

You Can REALLY Do with an Anthropology Degree.”

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020!